RiskXtraJune2019

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RISKXtra
BSIA Briefing
What with standards being constantly
updated and the national media often
focusing on very few aspects of what is
demonstrably an important and complex
industry, it’s all-too-easy to overlook the
fundamentals of security and its ultimate goal –
to protect people from harm and their assets
from being damaged or stolen.
When it comes to security systems, smoke
screens can be deemed the ultimate deterrent
because they take away criminals’ ability to
grab and steal. Criminals know that they can
evade CCTV by wearing a baseball cap, for
example, to hide their face. They also know
that shutters and grilles can be broken through
force, but they have no defence whatsoever
against the blinding and disorientating effects
of a smoke screen.
The initial burst of security fog stops
criminals in their tracks, preventing them from
committing a grab-and-go attack. The fog will
hang in the air for around 45 minutes,
protecting the property that’s under attack until
the police or private security staff arrive on
scene. Such smoke screens can be triggered
either automatically or manually.
Non-toxic, non-contaminating and extremely
effective, security fog currently provides
protection where all other forms of
conventional security have failed.
The key takeaway of this particular deterrent
is its non-harmful, but nevertheless striking
impact on the senses – in this case visibility –
that triggers a fight-or-flight response. A
criminal may expect an intruder alarm or CCTV
cameras to confront them, but not necessarily
thick and dense fog.
Preventing an intrusion
Visibility can play a vital role in deterring
criminals in other ways, and especially so if
they’re pre-warned that a given premises is
protected. Simon Banks, founder and Group
managing director at CSL and current chairman
of the BSIA, stated: “One of the two main
deterrents aligned with intruder alarm systems
is the window sticker and the bell or siren on
the commercial property. Research has shown
that the sight of a siren box with a logo on the
exterior of the property will prevent an
intrusion. It’s about credibility, though. If it’s a
respected security company with a good
reputation and credentials such as an
Inspectorate and/or Trade Associationapproved
‘badging’ then this will carry more
clout. Brands associated with DIY alarms will
likely not meet with the same response.”
Tim Raynor, video surveillance product
manager at ADT, suggests that visibility alone
Deterring The Criminals
Recently, a story appeared in the national media about how a
robbery was thwarted due to the in situ security measures
which scared the criminals away. Situations like this make us
reflect on the fundamental roots of security and the reasons
why it exists in the first place. This month we head to the
very heart of security as Carl Gibbard assesses the various
crime deterrents developed by BSIA member companies
will not always deter crime. It depends on the
type of criminal. “The visibility of a security
system is enough to deter an opportunist
criminal, but a career criminal who has planned
ahead probably wouldn’t be put off,” asserted
Raynor. “It’s now a sad fact that most people
ignore a ringing alarm, so it’s the responsibility
of security industry leaders to develop
innovations that help to reduce crime.”
Raynor continued: “When it comes to
monitored systems, these functionalities have
evolved significantly over the last decade. An
audio challenge feature, which enables an
operator to remotely challenge an intruder on a
property, adds an extra protective layer to any
physical security system. In fact, statistics
issued last year by Johnson Controls state that
98.5% of intruders are deterred in this way.”
In addition, Raynor went on to assert:
“Community groups such as Neighbourhood
Watch are still prevalent to this day. As crime
levels around the UK continue to be an issue,
we’re seeing both businesses and consumers
using platforms such as Facebook and
WhatsApp to share information in real-time,
allowing them to quickly take steps to protect
Carl Gibbard:
Chairman of the BSIA’s Export
Council and Chairman of
Concept Smoke Screen
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